Systems and methods for programmable payment cards and devices with loyalty-based payment applications

ABSTRACT

A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Data may include the type of reward that a user would like to earn as a result of making a purchase or the type of reward that a user would like to utilize to at least partially pay for a purchase.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/339,085, filed on Dec. 19, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007,61/026,846 filed on Feb. 7, 2008, 61/027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008,61/081,003 filed on Jul. 15, 2008, 61/086,239 filed on Aug. 5, 2008,61/090,423 filed on Aug. 20, 2008, 61/097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008,61/112,766 filed on Nov. 9, 2008, 61/117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008,61/119,366 filed on Dec. 2, 2008, and 61/120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008,all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that maytransmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magneticemulator. The magnetic emulator may be, for example, a circuit thatemits electromagnetic fields operable to electrically couple with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader such that data may be transmittedfrom the circuit to the magnetic stripe reader. The emulator may beoperated serially such that information is transmitted serially to amagnetic stripe reader. Alternatively, for example, portions of amagnetic emulator may emit different electromagnetic fields at aparticular instance such that the emulator is operated to providephysically parallel, instantaneous data. Alternatively still, a magneticmedium may be provided and a circuit may be provided to change themagnetic properties of the magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader is operable to read information written on the magnetic medium.

A processor may be provided on a card, or other device, that controls amagnetic emulator. The processor may be configured to operate theemulator such that the emulator transmits serial or parallelinformation. Particularly, the processor may decouple portions of anemulator from one another such that different portions of the emulatormay transmit different information (e.g., transmit data in a paralleloperation). The processor may couple portions of an emulator together(or drive the portions together) such that all portions of the emulatortransmits the same information (e.g., transmit data in a serialoperation). Alternatively, the processor may drive a portion of theemulator to transmit data using one method (e.g., serially) while theprocessor drives another portion of the emulator using a differentmethod (e.g., in parallel).

The processor may drive an emulator through a switching circuit. Theswitching circuit may control the direction and magnitude of currentthat flows through at least a portion of an emulator such that theswitching circuit controls the direction and magnitude of theelectromagnetic field created by at least that portion of the emulator.An electromagnetic field may be generated by the emulator such that theemulator is operable to electrically couple with a read-head from amagnetic stripe reader without making physical contact with theread-head. Particularly, for example, an emulator that is driven withincreased current can be operable to couple with the read-head of amagnetic stripe reader even when placed outside and within the proximityof (e.g., 0.25 inches or more) the read-head.

A processor may detect, for example, the presence of a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader by receiving signals from a magnetic stripereader detector and, in response, the processor may drive a magneticemulator in a manner that allows the emulator to couple with themagnetic stripe reader. More than one emulator may be provided on a cardor other device and a processor may drive such emulators in a variety ofdifferent manners.

A circuit may be provided on a credit card that is operable to receivedata from a device, such as a magnetic stripe. In this manner, a card,or other device, may communicate bi-directionally with a device.

An emulator may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader outside of,for example, the housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, forexample, the emulator may be provided in devices other than cards sizedto fit inside of the reading area of a magnetic stripe reader. In otherwords, for example, the emulator may be located in a device that isthicker than a card—yet the emulator can still communicate with one ormore read-heads located in a magnetic stripe reader. Such a device maybe, for example, a security token, a wireless communications device, alaptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a physical lock key to ahouse and/or car, or any other device.

Dynamic information may be provided by a processor located on the card,or other device, and communicated through a magnetic emulator. Suchdynamic information may, for example, change based on time. For example,the dynamic information may be periodically encrypted differently. Oneor more displays may be located on a card, or other device, such thatthe dynamic information may be displayed to a user through the display.Buttons may be provided to accept input from a user to, for example,control the operation of the card or other device.

Dynamic information may include, for example, a dynamic number that isused as, or part of, a number for a credit card number, debit cardnumber, payment card number, and/or payment verification code. Dynamicinformation may also include, for example, a student identificationnumber or medical identification number. Dynamic information may also,for example, include alphanumeric information such that a dynamicaccount name is provided.

Read-head detectors may be provided to determine, for example, when acard is being swiped and/or when a read-head is located over aparticular portion of a card (e.g., a magnetic emulation circuit). Amagnetic emulation circuit may be provided as, for example, a coil.Portions of such a coil may be utilized to detect a read-head while inother portions of the coil may be utilized to communicate informationelectromagnetically to a read-head. Accordingly, a coil may be utilizedto detect a read-head and, after a read-head is detected, the coil maybe utilized to, for example, serially transmit information to a magneticstripe reader.

A read-head detector, or an array of read-head detectors, may be ableto, for example, determine the type of reader that the card enteredinto. For example, a read-head detector array may determine, forexample, when a motorized reader was utilized, an insertion reader wasutilized, or a user-swipe reader was utilized. Such information may bestored and communicated to a remote storage device (e.g., a remotedatabase). This stored information may be utilized to combat, forexample, card cloning. For example, if a particular number of cards(e.g., 10 more) that made consecutive purchases from a machine (e.g., anATM) detected more than one reader, then, for example, the system maymake an autonomous determination that an illegal cloning device waslocated on front of that ATM machine. If, for example, multiple cardsuse a restaurant point-of-sale terminal and determine that multiplereaders were used then, for example, a computer can make an autonomousdetermination that cloning may have occurred at the restaurant.

A material may be sandwiched between the two layers to assist inreducing the effect of the electromagnetic fields from one set of coilsegments on the side of the material opposite that set of coil segments.Such an interior material may be insulated such that the material doesnot short the coil segments. Additionally, such an interior material maybe chosen, for example, such that the material does not saturate whenthe coil is conducting current. The coil and material may run, forexample, along the location of a track of magnetic data for a paymentcard. Accordingly, a coil may be fabricated so that the coil wrapsaround an interior material.

A material may be placed and/or printed on a PCB layer and sandwichedbetween two other PCB layers. These two other layers may each includecoil segments and vias. The middle layer may also include vias such thatthe material is fabricated to be located in the center of the coil. Thematerial may take a cylindrical, rectangular, square, or any type ofshape. Four layers may also be utilized, where the coil segments areprinted on a surface of the exterior layers and one or more materialsare printed and/or placed on/between the interior layers. A material maybe a magnetic material, ferromagnetic material, ferrimagnetic material,or any type of material. For example, copper may be printed on a PCBlayer and plated with a material (e.g., nickel, iron, chrome, tin, gold,platinum, cobalt, zinc, alloys). A material, for example, may have apermeability multiple times greater than the permeability of a vacuum. Amaterial, for example, may have a relative permeability of 2 to 25,000.A material may include, for example, a permalloy, iron, steel, ferrite,nickel or any other material. A material may be an alloy such as anickel-iron alloy. Such a nickel-iron alloy may include, for example,nickel (e.g., 75-85%), iron, copper, molybdenum and may be placedthrough one or more annealing processes. Annealing may occur beforeand/or after the material is placed/printed on a layer of material(e.g., a PCB layer or other layer). A similar and/or different materialmay be placed either above and/or below a portion, or the entire, set ofpaths on a layer for a coil. Accordingly, a material may be placed inthe interior of a coil as well as along a side of the coil.

Displays may be provided near user interfaces or other structures. Forexample, a display may be provided next to an LED. Cards may beprogrammed during manufacturing so that these displays may displayparticular information. Accordingly, for example, the same cardarchitecture may be utilized to provide a number of different types ofcards. A user may utilize user interfaces (e.g., mechanical orcapacitive interfaces) to change the function of the display. Forexample, codes may be entered to reconfigure the displays.Alternatively, for example, a user may utilize buttons to selectinformation to be displayed on displays associated with user interfaces.A code may associate a name of a store with a button and/or a dollaramount. For example, a display may be configured to read “Target $50.”Information may be entered manually, but also may be received by a card.For example, a user may swipe a card a second time through a magneticstripe reader and receive information via a magnetic emulator. Thisreceived information may be utilized to update information on the card(e.g., the balance of a gift card, credit account, and/or debitaccount). Information may also be received by an RFID antenna and/or ICchip located on a card and in communication with a central processor (ordistributed processors). For example, transaction information (e.g.,list of past transactions, stores where transactions occurred, amountsof transactions) and account information (e.g., balance information,bill information, amount due information) may be communicated to thecard and displayed on one or more displays.

A dynamic card may be manufactured in a variety of ways. For example, adynamic card may be printed onto a flexible material (e.g., a flexiblepolymer). Multiple layers of this material may be bonded together toform a multiple layer flexible structure. This multiple layer structuremay be laminated (e.g., via hot, warm and/or cold lamination) to form acard. The card may be programmed before or after lamination. A card maybe programmed via a direct connection between a programmer and one ormore contacts on a card. A card may be programmed via a capacitive,optical, or inductive communication via a communications link between aprogrammer and one or more components (e.g., a contact) on a card.Accordingly, for example, a card may be laminated and capacitivelyprogrammed. After programming, a processor on the card may be signaledto burn-out its programming communication channel(s) such that nofurther programming may occur. A portion of the card may not belaminated. Accordingly, a programmer may connect to this non-laminatedportion of the card. The non-laminated portion of the card may belaminated after programming. Alternatively, for example, thenon-laminated portion of the card may be cut after programming (e.g.,and after the processor burns-out its programming ports so the processorcannot be further programmed).

Additional external communication devices may be provided on a card. Forexample, a USB port or Wi-Fi antenna may be provided on a card. Suchadditional external communication devices may, for example, allow a userto communicate with stationary computer, laptop, or other device. Suchcommunication devices may, for example, be utilized to load gift cards,or other information (e.g., transactional or account information) from alaptop to a card or other device. A card is provided that includes alight sensor such that information can be communicated to a card vialight (e.g., via a light transmitted from a TV or website).

A loyalty-based payment application may be provided on a card. Forexample, a user may earn reward points when that user purchases an itemusing the payment card. In this manner, a user may earn reward pointsbased on the type of item, the dollar amount of the item, and/or thetime during which the item was purchased. A remote server may receiveinformation indicative of reward points that a particular user hasearned. This remote server may also transmit information back to a card(e.g., via a payment card reader). Such information may include thetotal amount of reward points that have been earned by a particularreader. The total amount of reward points may be stored on a paymentcard and displayed to a user via a display located on the cardautomatically after each transaction and/or as a result of manual input.

A user may provide manual input to a card in order to instruct the cardto pay for a purchase using reward points. A purchase may besubsequently authorized in a variety of ways. For example, a flag may beplaced in payment information that is communicated through a paymentcard reader that is indicative of a user's desire to utilize rewardpoints for payment. Such a flag may take the form of a particularcharacter or set of characters in a particular location of paymentinformation. A remote server may then, for example, look for aparticular character, or set of characters, in received paymentinformation to determine whether payment is desired to be made by rewardpoints. Alternatively, for example, a different payment account numbermay be communicated when reward points are desired and a remote servermay utilize this different payment account number to authorize a paymenttransaction. Payment information that is communicated may be encryptedin a variety of ways. For example, all or part of the paymentinformation may be encrypted for each transaction, which may bedetermined via manual input or read-head detectors, or based on time.

Multiple different types of rewards may be earned on a card. Forexample, a user may be provided with the option of earning rewardpoints, airline miles, receive cash-back, or donating a purchase-basedvalue to charity. In this manner, a card may be provided with a set ofbuttons where each button corresponds to a different type of reward.Additional buttons may be provided for additional functionalities (e.g.,the entry of a user's Personal Identification Number). Before apurchase, a user may select the type of rewards that the user would liketo earn for the purchase. Data corresponding to the selection may beprovided in payment information communicated to a payment card reader.Such rewards information may take many forms. For example, dataindicative of the selection may be provided as discretionary data.Alternatively, for example, a different account number may becommunicated for each type of reward.

Payment information may be communicated in a variety of ways. Forexample, information indicative of the type of reward that is desired orthe form of payment may be communicated via an IC chip, RFID antenna,and magnetic emulator or encoder. Payment information may be structureddifferently for each type of communication and, similarly, may includeoverlapping as well as different data. For example, data indicative ofthe type of reward desired may be provided as discretionary data in bothtrack 1 and track 2 of a magnetic emulator. However, for example, dataindicative of the type of reward desired may be provided as a differentaccount number for a transaction based off an RFID signal from an RFIDantenna. Data may be stored on a memory and constructed by a processorsuch that the payment information may delivered via a readercommunication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustrations of a card and a payment process constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a webpage constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a webpage constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of payment flow charts constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a network topology constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 22 is an illustration of a personal electronic device constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that includes printed information 111 and 120,displays 112 and 113, and buttons 130-134. Card 100 may be, for example,a payment card such as a credit card, debit card, and/or gift card.Payment information, such as a credit/debit card number may be providedas static information 111, dynamic information 112 and/or 113, or anycombination thereof.

For example, a particular number of digits of a credit card number(e.g., the last 3 digits) may be provided as dynamic information. Suchdynamic information may be changed periodically (e.g., once every hour).Information may be changed via, for example, encryption. Software may beprovided at, for example, the payment verification server that verifiesthe dynamic information for each period of time such that a payment canbe validated and processed for a particular user. A user may beidentified using, for example, static information that is used to form acredit card number or other static information (e.g., information 120).Additionally, identification information may be derived (e.g., embedded)in dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata credit card number may have, for example, a length of 15 or 16 digits.A credit card number may also have a length of up to 19 digits. Averification code may be used with some payment systems and such averification code may be provided statically on the card or may beprovided as dynamic information. Such a verification code may beprovided on a second display located on, for example, the front or rearsurface of card 100. Alternatively, a verification code may be displayedon the same display as other dynamic information (e.g., dynamicinformation 112). A display may be, for example, a flexible electronicink display. Such a flexible electronic ink display may, for example,utilize power to change displayed information, but may not utilize powerto display information after the information is changed.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152. Magnetic emulator 151 may be included and may beoperable to electrically couple with a read-head of a magnetic stripereader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-headhousing of a magnetic stripe reader may be provided with one, two, orthree active read-heads that are operable to each couple with a separatemagnetic track of information. A reader may also have more than oneread-head housing and each read-head housing may be provided with one,two, or three active read-heads that are operable to each couple with aseparate magnetic track of information. Such read-head housings may beprovided different surfaces of a magnetic stripe reader. For example,the read-head housings may be provided on opposite walls of a troughsized to accept payment cards. Accordingly, the devices on the oppositesides of the trough may be able to read a credit card regardless of thedirection that the credit card was swiped.

A magnetic emulator may be provided and may be positioned on card 150such that when card 150 is swiped through a credit card reader, themagnetic emulator passes underneath, or in the proximity of, a read-headfor a particular magnetic track. An emulator may be large enough tosimultaneously pass beneath, or in the proximity of, multipleread-heads. Information may be transmitted, for example, serially to oneor more read-heads. Information from different tracks of data may alsobe transmitted serially and the magnetic stripe reader may determine thedifferent data received by utilize the starting and/or ending sentinelsthat define the information for each track. A magnetic emulator may alsotransmit a string of leading and/or ending zeros such that a magneticreader may utilize such a string of zeros to provide self-clocking. Indoing so, for example, information may be transmitted serially at highspeeds to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, credit card informationmay be transmitted to a magnetic stripe reader at speeds up to, andgreater than, 30 kHz.

Different emulators may be provided, and positioned, on card 150 to eachcouple with a different read-head and each emulator may providedifferent track information to those different read-heads. Read-headdetectors may be utilized to detect when a read-head is over an emulatorsuch that an emulator is controlled by a processor to operate when aread-head detector detects the appropriate presence of a read-head. Indoing so, power may be saved. Additionally, the read-head detector maydetect how many read-heads are reading the card and, accordingly, onlycommunicate with the associated emulators. In doing so, additional powermay be conserved. Accordingly, an emulator may be utilized tocommunicate dynamic information to a magnetic stripe reader. Suchdynamic information may include, for example, dynamic payment cardinformation that changes based on time.

A static magnetic stripe may be provided to transmit data for one ormore tracks to a magnetic strip reader where dynamic information is notdesired. Card 150, for example, may include static magnetic track 153and static magnetic track 152. Information on static magnetic tracks 152and 153 may be encoded via a magnetic stripe encoder. Emulator 151 maybe included such that dynamic information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe reader, for example, without a magnetic stripe via anelectromagnetic signal transmitted directly from emulator 151 to aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Any combination of emulators andstatic magnetic tracks may be utilized for a card or device (e.g., twomagnetic emulators without any magnetic stripes).

One or more batteries, such as flexible lithium polymer batteries, maybe utilized to form card 100. Such batteries may be electrically coupledin a serial combination to provide a source of power to the variouscomponents of card 100. Alternatively, separate batteries may providepower to different components of card 100. For example, a battery mayprovide power to a processor and/or display of card 100, while anotherbattery provides a source of energy to one or more magnetic emulators ofcard 100. In doing so, for example, a processor may operate even afterthe battery that supplies power to an emulator completely discharges.Accordingly, the processor may provide information to another componentof card 100. For example, the processor may display information on adisplay to indicate to a user that the magnetic emulator is not longeroperational due to power exhaustion. Batteries may be, for example,rechargeable and contacts, or other devices, may be provided on card 100such that the battery may be recharged.

Buttons (e.g., buttons 130-134) may be provided on a card. Such buttonsmay allow a user to manually provide information to a card. For example,a user may be provided with a personal identification code (e.g., a PIN)and such a personal identification code may be required to be manuallyinputted into a card using the buttons in order for the card to operatein a particular manner. For example, the use of a magnetic emulator orthe use of a display may require a personal identification code.

By dynamically changing a portion of a user's credit card number, forexample, credit card fraud is minimized. By allowing the dynamicinformation to displayed visually to a user, and changed magnetically ona card, user behavior change is minimized (with respect to a credit cardwith completely static information). By requiring the use of a personalidentification code, the fraud associated with lost or stolen creditcards is minimized. Fraud associated with theft/loss is minimized asthird party users do not know the personal identification code needed tooperate particular aspects of a credit card with dynamic information.

FIG. 2 shows card 200. Card 200 may include, for example, staticmagnetic stripe track 203, static magnetic stripe track 201, andmagnetic emulator 202 sandwiched between read-head detectors 204 and205. A read-head detector may, for example, be provided as a circuitthat detects, for example, changes in capacitance or mechanical couplingto a conductive material. Processor 220 may be provided to, for example,receive information from read-head detectors 204 and 205 and controlemulator 202. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that processor220 may cause a current to flow through a coil of emulator 202 in adifferent direction to produce different electromagnetic fields. Thetransitions between the different electromagnetic fields may be sensedby a magnetic stripe reader as information. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may transmit data serially while a read-head is electricallycoupled with a magnetic reader.

RFID antenna 210 may be provided on card 200. Such an RFID antenna maybe operable to transmit information provided by processor 220. In doingso, for example, processor 220 may communicate with an RFID device usingRFID antenna 210 and may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader usingmagnetic emulator 202. Both RFID antenna 210 and magnetic emulator 202may be utilized to communicate payment card information (e.g., creditcard information) to a reader. Processor 240 may also be coupled todisplay 240 such that dynamic information can be displayed on display240. Button array 230 may also be coupled to processor 220 such that theoperation of card 200 may be controlled, at least in part, by manualinput received by button array 230. A smart-card chip may, for example,be included on card 200 in lieu of, or in addition to, RFID 210.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a static magnetic trackmay be a read-write track such that information may be written to amagnetic track from a magnetic stripe reader that includes a headoperable to magnetically encode data onto a magnetic track. Informationmay be written to a magnetic track as part of a payment process (e.g., acredit card or debit card transaction). Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a static magnetic track may include a magnetic materialthat includes ferromagnetic materials that provide for flux-reversalssuch that a magnetic stripe reader can read the flux-reversals from thestatic magnetic track. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may communicate information that remains thesame from payment card transaction to payment card transaction (e.g.,static information) as well as information that changes betweentransactions (e.g., dynamic information).

A card may include magnetic emulators without, for example, including astatic magnetic track. Read-head detectors may also be provided. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic reader may includethe ability to read two tracks of information (e.g., may include atleast two read-heads). All of the information needed to perform afinancial transaction (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction) may beincluded on two magnetic tracks. Alternatively, all of the informationneeded to perform a financial transaction (e.g., a gift cardtransaction) may be included on one magnetic track. Accordingly,particular cards, or other devices, may include the ability, forexample, to only transmit data associated with the tracks that areneeded to complete a particular financial transaction. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that for systems with three tracks ofinformation, the bottom two tracks may be utilized for credit cardinformation. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that asecure credit card transaction may be provided by only changing, forexample, one of two magnetic tracks utilized in a credit cardtransaction (for those transactions that utilize two tracks).Accordingly, one track may be a static magnetic track constructed from amagnetic material and the other track may be provided as a magneticemulator. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that numerousadditional fields of data may be provided on a magnetic track inaddition to a credit card number (or a security code). Dynamicinformation may be provided in such additional fields in order tocomplete a particular financial transaction. For example, suchadditional dynamic information may be numbers (or characters), encryptedwith time and synced to software, at a validating server, operable tovalidate the encrypted number for a particular period of time.

Card 250 includes emulator 251 that includes a coil operable tocommunicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Similarly, forexample, emulator 251 may receive information for a magnetic stripeencoder. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a coil may runacross the length of a card such that a read-head moves along the lengthof the coil and can receive information transmitted serially from thecoil. The coil may extend into multiple tracks such that multipleread-heads receive information from the coil. Track information can besent serially (e.g., track 1 information followed by track 2information). Multiple coils may be driven separately and placed indifferent zones such that a single read-head moves from coil-to-coil(e.g., zone-to-zone) and power is conserves as only coils in aparticular zone (or zones) may be utilized to communicate informationany particular time. Separate coils may be utilized for separate tracks.Materials may be placed in the interior of each coil to assist withmanipulating the electromagnetic field produced by the coils. Materialmay be placed above or below a coil to further manipulate theelectromagnetic field produced by the coil. Switching circuitry 252 mayinclude, for example, one or more transistors that may be utilized tocontrol the direction of current via emulator 251 (e.g., the polarity ofvoltage(s) across a drive resistor). For example, a coil may be utilizedto transmit a string of information to a particular read-head. Differentcoils may transmit information at different speeds (or at the samespeed). Different coils may transmit different amounts of information.For example, three coils may be provided. The coil closest to the bottomof the long-end of a card may transmit at least 79 characters. The coilnext closest to the bottom of the long-end of a card may transmit atleast 40 characters of information. The coil next closest to the bottomof the long-end of the card may transmit at least 107 characters. One ormore coils may have different character sets (e.g., a 6-bit characterset or a 7-bit character set). The last bit in a character may include,for example, a parity bit. Additional synching information may betransmitted before and after the data information to assist withsynching a magnetic stripe reader. For example, a string of zeros may becommunicated before and after communicating primary data. Characters maybe included in the data information for other purposes such as an LRCcharacter.

FIG. 3 shows card 300 that may include a number of components. Card 300may include one or more processors 320. A processor may include, forexample, cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM. Additional memory may beprovided on card 300. For example, additional non-volatile, volatile,cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM may be provided on card 300. Battery 325may be provided on card 300. Battery 325 may be, for example, a lithiumpolymer battery and may have a thickness less than a millimeter (e.g.,approximately 0.5 mm). RFID antenna 315 may be provided on card 300 andmay communicate data to an RFID reader. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that an RFID may be included that is a passive or activeRFID. IC chip 310 may be included on card 300 and may communicate datato an IC chip reader. Device 301 may be included to communicationinformation to a magnetic stripe reader. Device 301 may include anynumber of magnetic emulators, magnetic encoders that encode magneticstripes, and/or magnetic stripes. For example, device 301 may include amagnetic emulator for one track of magnetic data and a magnetic stripefor a second track of data. Alternatively, for example, device 301 mayinclude two emulators for separate tracks of data. An emulator may, forexample, communicate information to a read-head of a magnetic stripereader serially. One or more read-head detectors 302 may be provided todetect a read-head (or other attribute) of a magnetic stripe reader.Additional detectors may be included to detect, for example, when a cardis provided into an IC chip reader and/or an electromagnetic field froman RFID reader. Button array 330 may be provided, for example, toreceive input from a user. Button array 330 may include any number ofbuttons (e.g., 4, 5, 10, or more than 10). Button array 330 may include,for example, mechanical buttons, capacitive buttons, or any type of userinterface. One or more displays 340 may also be included. A display maybe, for example, an electronic ink display (e.g., electrochromicdisplay), LCD display, or any other type of display. Display 340 may beflexible.

Display 340 may be printed onto a layer during a printed fabricationprocess (e.g., PCB). Additionally, for example, battery 325 may beprinted onto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB).Similarly, a magnetic emulator may be printed onto a layer during aprinted fabrication process (e.g., PCB). Other components may be printedonto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB) such ascapacitive read-head detectors, and capacitive touch sensors.Accordingly, a display, battery, read-head detector, and button arraymay be printed on one or more layers that are bonded together andlaminated.

FIG. 3 shows card 350 that may include, for example, processor 353,switching circuitry 352, and emulator 351 having active region 354.Switching circuitry 352 may, for example, control the direction ofcurrent through emulator 351 in order to change the direction ofelectromagnetic fields generated by emulator 351 such that data may becommunicated serially to a magnetic stripe read-head. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulator 351 may be fabricated on a singlelayer and that region 354 may include coil segments dense enough togenerate an electromagnetic field that can be recognized by a read-headof a magnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 4 shows environment 400 that may include magnetic stripe reader410, read-head housing 440, card 420, and magnetic emulator 430.Read-head housing 440 may include any number of read-head's such as, forexample, one, two, or three read-heads. Each read-head may independentlyreceive magnetic fields from magnetic emulator 430 (or a magneticstripe, such as a magnetic stripe encoded on-card by card 420). Emulator430 may be positioned to be adjacent to any one or more read-heads ofread-head housing 440 or may be positioned to communicate information toany one or more read-heads of read-head housing 440. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulators with longer lengths may belocated within the proximity of one or more read-heads for a longerduration of time when a card is swiped. In doing so, for example, moreinformation may be transmitted from an emulator to a read-head when acard is being swiped.

FIG. 5 includes environment 500 that may include cards 520 and 530 aswell as magnetic stripe reader 510. Read-head housing 511 may beincluded on a wall of a trough of magnetic stripe reader 510. The troughmay be sized to accept cards (e.g., credit cards).

Card 520 may include emulator 521. Emulator 521 may provideelectromagnetic field 591 that may transmit through a portion of thehousing of magnetic stripe reader 510 (e.g., through a wall of a troughto get to read-head housing 511). Accordingly, card 520 may be locatedoutside of a reader—yet still be operable to communicate information toa magnetic stripe reader. A reader may be provided with an outer wall,for example, with a thickness of a quarter of an inch or more. Emulator521 can provide electromagnetic field 591 over a distance of, forexample, a quarter of an inch or more.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 520 may be coupledto a device via a permanent or removable cable. Such a device mayprovide power to card 520 as well as control information—such as controlinformation for emulator 530. An external source of power may beutilized, for example, to provide a larger amount of electrical energyto emulator 521 than from a source of power located within card 520.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a car having an internalbattery may still be able to receive a cable from a device having itsown source of electrical energy.

Card 530 may be provided with emulator 531 and may electrically couplewith a read-head of magnetic stripe reader 510. Any number of emulatorsmay be provided in card 530 in any number of orientations such that theappropriate electromagnetic field may couple with a read head ofread-head housing 511 regardless of the orientation of card 720 withrespect to read-head 511. More particularly, for example, additionalread-head housings may be provided in magnetic stripe reader 510 atdifferent locations about the reader to electrically couple with aemulators in a number of different configurations. A sticker and/orguide-structures may be provided on a magnetic stripe reader to, forexample, direct a user on how to position his/her card (or other device)for contactless transmission of data (e.g., credit card data) to aread-head housing without using the trough that includes that read-headhousing.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe readermay include a trough that includes two (or more) read-head housings 511located in approximately the same vertical position on a card-swipingtrough, but at different horizontal locations on opposite walls of thetrough. In doing so, for example, a magnetic stripe may be readregardless of the direction that a card having the magnetic stripe isfacing when the card is swiped. Magnetic emulator 521 may, for example,communicate magnetic fields outside both the front and read surfaces ofa card. Accordingly, a single emulator 521 may, for example, couple witha single read-head regardless of the direction the card was facing whenswiped. In doing so, for example, the costs of readers may be reduced asonly a single read-head may be need to receive information regardless ofthe direction a card is facing when swiped. Accordingly, magneticreaders do not need stickers and/or indicia to show a user the correctorientation to swipe a card through a magnetic stripe reader. An adaptermay be provided that coupled directly to a read-head that allows adevice not operable to fit in a trough to electrically couple with aread-head.

An emulator may be positioned about a surface of a card (or otherdevice), beneath a surface of a device, or centered within a card. Theorientation of a magnetic emulator in a card may provide differentmagnetic fields (e.g., different strength's of magnetic fields) outsidedifferent surfaces of a card. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may be printed via PCB printing. A card mayinclude multiple flexible PCB layers and may be laminated to form a cardusing, for example, a hot and/or cold lamination. Portions of anelectronic ink display may also be fabricated on a layer during a PCBprinting process.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number does not needto, for example, change with time. Information can change, for example,based on manual input (e.g., a button press or combination of buttonpresses). Additionally, a credit card number may be a static displaynumber and may be wholly or partially displayed by a display. Such astatic credit card number may result in the reduction of fraud if, forexample, a personal identification code is required to be entered on amanual input entry system to activate the display. Additionally, fraudassociated with card cloning may be minimized with the use of a magneticemulator activated by the correct entry on a manual input entry system.

Person skilled in the art will also appreciate that a card may be clonedby a thief, for example, when the thief puts a illegitimate credit cardreader before a legitimate credit card reader and disguising theillegitimate credit card reader. Thus, a read-head detector may detect aread-head housing and then, if a second read-head housing is detected onthe same side of the credit card, the reader may transmit information tothe second read-head that signifies that two read-head housings weredetected. In doing so, for example, a bank, or the police, may benotified of the possibility of the presence of a disguised cloningdevice. The information representative of multiple read-heads may beincluded with information that would allow a credit card number to bevalidated. As such, a server may keep track of the number of read-headhousings at each reader and, if more read-head housings are detectedthan expected, the server may contact an administrator (or the police).The server may also cause the credit card transaction to process or mayreject the credit card transaction. If the number of read-head housings(or read-heads) is the number expected by the server, the server canvalidate the payment transaction.

A payment system using dynamic numbers may, for example, be operablewith numbers that are stored outside of the period in which thosenumbers would otherwise be valid. A server may be included, for example,that accepts a dynamic credit card number, information representative ofa past credit card number, and the merchant that is requesting payment.The server may register that merchant for that saved number. The numbermay be decrypted (or otherwise validated) for that past period of time.Accordingly, the credit card transaction may be validated. Additionally,the merchant identification information may be linked to the storeddynamic credit card number for that past period of time. If the serverreceives a transaction from a different merchant with that same dynamiccredit card number for that same period of time, the server may rejectthe transaction. In doing so, a merchant may be protected from havingcredit card numbers stolen from its various storage devices. If a thiefsteals a number from a merchant's server that is associated with a pastperiod of time, that number cannot be used, for example, anywhere else.Furthermore, such a topology may, for example, allow merchants toprovide a one-click shopping, periodic billing, or any other type offeature that may utilize dynamic numbers that are stored and usedoutside of the period in which the dynamic numbers were generated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different emulators maybe controlled by different switching circuitry (e.g., differenttransistors).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple buttons may becoupled together to form a single-bit bus. If any button is pressed, thebus may change states and signal to the processor to utilize differentports to determine what button was pressed. In this manner, buttons maybe coupled to non-triggerable ports of a processor. Each button (or asubset of buttons) may be coupled to one or more triggerable ports of aprocessor. A port on a microprocessor may be utilized to drive anemulator in addition to, for example, receiving information from abutton. For example, once an appropriate personal identification code isreceived by a processor, the processor may utilize one or more portsthat receive information from one or more buttons to drive an emulator(e.g., for a period of time). Alternatively, for example, a magneticemulator may be coupled to its own triggerable or non-triggerableprocessor port. A card may also include a voltage regulator to, forexample, regulate power received from an internal or external source ofpower.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of device maybe utilized to provide dynamic magnetic information on a card to amagnetic stripe reader. As discussed above, a magnetic encoder may beprovided that can change information on a magnetic medium where thechanged information can be detected by a magnetic stripe reader.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the direction of currentthrough magnetic circuit 650 may be changed and controlled in a patternthat is representative of magnetic stripe data. Particularly, aprocessor may, for example, transmit information through a coil bychanging the direction of the electromagnetic field generated fromemulator circuit at particular times. A change in the frequency of fieldreversals may be representative of, for example, a particular bit ofinformation (e.g., “1” or “0”).

FIG. 6 shows and 650 that includes buttons 651-664, light sources691-694, displays 852-853, permanent information 651 and 670, buttons681-684, and hologram 699. A user may be provided with a payment number.Such a payment number may be comprised of permanent data, dynamic data,or a combination of permanent and dynamic data. Dynamic data may beprovided, for example, on display 652. Display 653 may be utilized toprovide a code, which may be dynamic. Such a code may be utilized inauthorize a transaction. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thatdisplays may display a code, payment number, or any type of data thatchanges based on time or based on use (e.g., utilizes one-time usedata). Similarly, data may be static and may not change. Accordingly,for example, a display may be utilized to display the same data whendesired such that the data may be hidden when the data is not desired tobe displayed. Buttons 651-664, 681-682, and/or 683-684 may be utilizedto signal a processor to display information on display 652, display643, or display 652 and display 653.

A Personal Identification Code (PAC) may be entered to utilize todisplay data, as well as instruct a processor to provide particulardata. For example, a particular PAC may provide one payment number(e.g., a credit card number) while a different PAC may provide adifferent payment number (e.g., a debit card number). A PAC may includea sequence of button presses (e.g., 5 particular button presses).Furthermore, a PAC may be utilized to unlock a card so that the card maybe utilized. For example, buttons 681, 682, 683, and 684 may not beutilized by a user until an appropriate PAC has been entered via buttons651-665. A number may be changed based on time (e.g., via display 652,display 653, or display 652 and display 653). Accordingly, a PAC may beentered such that the particular number associated with a particularbutton (e.g., a number associated with button 651) for a particular timeperiod (e.g., a particular day) may be displayed. One PAC may activatedisplay 652 while another PAC may activate display 653.

Light source 691 may be an LED or other source of light. Light source691 may display light each time a button associated to light source 691is pressed (e.g., buttons 661-662). Similarly, light source 692 maydisplay light each time a button associated with light source 692 ispressed (e.g., button 681 or 682). Light source 693 may display lighteach time a button associated with light source 693 is pressed (e.g.,light source 683 or 684). Light source 694 may be associated to acomponent and may display light each time that component is activated(e.g., display 653 or 652 is activated). Light sources may emit lighthaving different colors. For example, a processor may determine that aPAC provided to the processor via buttons 661-665 matches a valid PACfor performing an operation. Each button press may cause light source691 to emit light of a first color (e.g., YELLOW). The last button pressto complete the PAC, however, may cause light source 691 to emit adifferent color if the PAC is VALID (e.g., emit GREEN) yet emit anothercolor if the PAC is INVALID (e.g., emit RED). Particular areas of alaminated card may be transparent such that light from a light-sourceilluminates the transparent area.

Buttons may be provided on a card that each may, for example, beassociated with a card of a particular country. Persons skilled in theart will appreciate that a card may be provided with a default number.Such a default number may include, for example, permanent data 651 anddata displayed on display 652. Accordingly, a particular PAC may displaythe default data on display 652.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other default data maybe provided to other components of a card upon entry of a PAC. Forexample, particular default data (e.g., payment card number anddiscretionary data) may be communicated to a magnetic emulator (ormagnetic encoder) such that the information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe read-head. Similarly, default data (e.g., payment cardnumber and discretionary data) may be communicated to an RFID antenna,an IC chip, or an RFID antenna and an IC chip. Such default data may bedifferent for each component (e.g., magnetic encoder/emulator, RFIDantenna, IC Chip) and may be in different formats (e.g., one track ofpayment data for one magnetic emulator and another track of payment datafor another magnetic emulator).

Button 681 may cause, for example, display 652, display 653, or display652 and 653 to display data associated to button 681. Similarly, dataassociated to button 681 for other components of card 650 (e.g., amagnetic emulator, magnetic encoder, RFID antenna, and IC chip) may becommunicated through those components. Button 681 may be associatedwith, for example a particular territory (e.g., America). Accordingly,for example, information communicated via card 650 may be associatedwith a default country upon entry of a particular PAC until, forexample, a button is pressed associated with a different country. Atthis time, for example, the information communicated by card 650 maychange to the information associated with the particular button pressed.

A button may be utilized to provide instructions to a processor that agift card is desired to be utilized via card 650. A gift code may beentered (e.g., via buttons 661-665) after a particular button is pressedsuch that a user may, for example, associate a gift card to thatparticular button of card 650. Accordingly, card 650 may be utilized tomake a gift purchase such that the original gift card may be thrown out(or left at home). The code entered into card 650 may be utilized, forexample, to provide a processor with a number to transmit via the card(e.g., next time the particular is utilized). Such a number (as well asassociated data such as associated discretionary data) may becommunicated by card 650 via one or more displays, magnetic emulators,magnetic encoders, RFID antennas, and IC chips. A code mayalternatively, for example, transmit a flag (e.g., discretionary data)that a gift card is being utilized (e.g., upon another use of theparticular button) such that a server may look at a seller ID number andcheck if there are any gift cards associated to a particular paymentcard number for that seller ID number. Accordingly, for example, a usermay obtain a gift card (e.g., Target gift card) and may link that giftcard to his/her payment card account (e.g., credit card account) and mayutilize a button to send a flag that a gift card is desired to beutilized. A code may be entered to provide a particular flag (e.g., aflag associated with a particular seller). Alternatively, no code may beentered and a particular may just be utilized to generate a generic flag(e.g., causing a server to check if there are any linked gift cards forthe account associated with the seller associated with the utilizedpoint-of-sale reader). A user may be provided with a particular code tobe entered when utilize the gift card at an online store (e.g., Target'sonline store). The online store may, for example, allow a user to enterhis/her payment information (e.g., credit card number, expiration date,name on card, zip code associated with card) and allow the user toselect whether a gift card should be utilized associated with that card(e.g., via a radio button or other webpage input structure).

A button may be provided on card 650 and may be utilized, for example,to make an in-store purchase. The button may activate, for example, aparticular display to display information for an in-store purchase(e.g., a portion of an account number). For online transactions, adifferent button may be pressed and a code may be displayed. In notshowing an online code for an in-store purchase, for example, a userthat is provided with a card during an in-store purchase may not gainaccess to the additional code information. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate, for example, that such a code (may be transmitted via acomponent (e.g., emulator) even though the information is not displayed.Moreover, for example, both the code and partial (or full) accountnumber may be the same display only displayed when different buttons arepressed. A different code may be communicated through a communicationscomponent (e.g., magnetic emulator, magnetic encoder, RFID antenna, orIC chip) such that the code cannot be intercepted and utilized to makean online transaction. Any codes may be provided as one-time use codes(e.g., activated by manual input form a user) or time-based codes.

Buttons may be provided on a card that may be associated with, forexample, different types of loyalty-based benefits. In this manner, auser may select the different type of reward the user desires to obtainfor each purchase. In doing so, the user can select the type of rewardthat the user may found most useful for a particular period of time. Forexample, suppose a user is about to take an airplane trip and is only afew miles away from being awarded a free ticket. In such an instance, auser may find more utility in obtaining airline miles. Furthermore,allowing for multiple rewards on a card may, for example, provide a userwith the ability to reduce the number of cards in his/her wallet whilereducing card issuance costs at the card issuer.

Button 681 may be provided and may be associated with permanentlyprinted information 671. Accordingly, for example, button 681 may beutilized by a user to instruct a processor that a particular rewardassociated with permanently printed information 671 is desired.Accordingly, the processor may communicate information through a readercommunications component indicative of the user's desire to utilize aparticular type of reward (e.g., RFID antenna, magnetic encoder,magnetic emulator, or IC chip). The processor may also display, forexample, a code that may be entered online that is indicative of thetype of reward a user desires. For example, a security code may bedisplayed on a display and a digit of this code may be associated to aparticular reward. Alternatively, for example, a particular code may berepresentative of a particular reward. Alternatively still, for example,a particular code may take on a particular format such that an algorithm(e.g., a decryption algorithm) can both validate a code for security butalso determine the type of reward that is desired.

For example, a security code may be generated based on one of aparticular number (e.g., 4) of time-based encryption algorithms.Accordingly, a user may select a particular type of reward (or otherfeature) and an algorithm associated to that feature may be utilized toencrypt a private number. The code may be communicated through an onlinepayment portion to a remote server. In turn, this remote server maydecrypt the security code with all of the time-based encryptionalgorithms that could have been utilized. The algorithm that results ina particular private number may be determined to have been the algorithmselected by a user. In turn, the remote server may be able to determinethe type of reward the user desires. In doing so, for example,information may be communicated through an online security code. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that encryption algorithms may bechosen that, for example, do not result in the same encrypted number forany particular period of time.

Button 682 may be associated with permanently printed information 672.Button 682 may be associated with, for example, a type of reward. Forexample, button 682 may be associated with a cash-back reward.Accordingly, for example, a user may receive cash-back from a purchaseif a cash-back reward is chosen. The cash-back may take many forms. Forexample, the user may receive a discount at the actual point-of-sale.Alternatively, the user's payment card account may be debited with thecash-back amount periodically (e.g., monthly or annually) or after aparticular amount of cash-back has been accumulated (e.g., $100).

Button 683 may be associated with display 654. Display 654 may show atype of reward (e.g., charity). Similarly, button 683 may be associatedwith display 655. Display 655 may show a type of reward (e.g., rewardpoints).

FIG. 6 also shows flow chart 690. Step 691 may be provided in flow chart690, in which a transaction may be initiated. A transaction may beinitiated in a variety of ways. For example, a card may be swipedthrough a payment card terminal. A user may select one of a variety ofpayment types. For example, a user may select to pay by a particulartype of payment account (e.g., a credit account). Accordingly, step 692may be initiated, in which a remote server determines from the receivedpayment information that a user desired to pay with this particularpayment account. Similarly, a user may select to pay via a differenttype of payment account (e.g., a debit account). Accordingly, step 693may be initiated, in which a remote server determines from the receivedpayment information that a user desired to pay with this differentpayment account. A user may also select to pay via a particular type ofrewards. Accordingly, step 694 may be initiated, in which a remoteserver determines from the received payment information that a userdesired to pay with this particular reward account. A user may pay foran item using one of multiple reward accounts. Step 695 may initiate tocomplete a transaction.

FIG. 7 shows card 700 that may include buttons 710, 720, and 730. A usermay utilize buttons 710, 720, and 730 to select a type of reward. Forexample, a user may select to purchase an item and have the purchaseprice utilized as part of a charity reward. In such a reward, forexample, a particular percentage of the purchase price may be donated tocharity. The user may be provided with an online or paper tax statementat the end of the year indicating how much money the user earned inrewards and provided to the charity.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user may be providedwith a personalized webpage indicating to the user the types of rewardsthat were chosen for each transaction as well as summary information forthe total amount of rewards earned during a period (e.g., a billingperiod) for each type of reward. A user may also be provided with theability to transfer earned rewards to different types of rewards.Particular exchange rates may be provided for transferring rewards aswell as transfer costs.

Display 740 may be provided on card 700. Display 740 may display, forexample, a portion of an account number as well as informationindicative of any user selection.

Buttons 751-755 may be provided, for example, such that a user may enterin various types of codes (e.g., unlocking codes, gift codes, discountcodes, programming codes for changing the types of rewards on a card).Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that buttons 751-755 may alsobe utilized, for example, to select a reward. Accordingly, a user mayenter in his personal unlocking code and then, when prompted, pick aparticular button for a particular type of reward.

FIG. 8 shows card 800 that may include buttons 804-808 for entering invarious types of codes as well as making various types of userselections. Button 801 may be provided to allow a user, for example, toselect that the user desires to earn points for a purchase. Button 802may be provided for example, to allow a user to select that the userdesires to spend points for a purchase. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a server may determine how many points are needed for apurchase, deduct that amount from a user's total, and, if applicable,deduct an amount of money from a particular payment account if therewards points are exhausted with a remaining amount due.

Button 803 may be utilized by a user to see the user's point balance ondisplay 810. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card mayreceive balance information in a variety of ways. For example, a cardmay receive information via a magnetic emulator, IC chip, or an activeRFID antenna.

FIG. 9 shows card 900 that may include buttons 901-908 for selectingvarious types of rewards. Display 910 may be utilized to indicate to auser the type of reward that was selected. For example, display 910 maybe a one-character display. Button 909 may be utilized to indicate thata user desires to lock or unlock a card. A user may then utilize buttons901-908 to enter in an unlocking code. Person skilled in the art willappreciate that a user may lock a card simply by pressing, for example,button 909. Light source 920 may be utilized, for example, to indicateto a user whether the card is locked or unlocked. For example, lightsource 920 may turn a particular color (e.g., GREEN) upon card 900receiving an appropriate unlocking code. Light source may then, forexample, periodically blink that color while a card is unlocked and thecard's reader communicating components are activated for communicationby a processor. Light source 920 may turn a different color (e.g., REDor ORANGE) if, for example, an incorrect code is entered. Light source920 may similarly flash the same color as an incorrect unlocking codewhen the card locks (e.g., automatically or as a result of user input).Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card provided in theUnited States may be programmed to include GREEN as an unlocking colorand RED as a locking color and a card provided in a different country(e.g., a European country) may provide RED as an unlocking color andGREEN as a locking color.

FIG. 10 shows card 1000 that may include buttons 1011-1013. Button 1011may be utilized to indicate to a processor that a user desires to splita bill between two different payment accounts. Button 1012 may beutilized to indicate to a processor that the user desires to split abill between a credit and cash payment. Button 1013 may be utilized toindicate to a processor that the user desires to split a bill betweencredit and rewards points. Buttons 1014-1016 may be utilized, forexample, to indicate the proportions of the split. Display 1020 may beutilized to display a portion of a payment account number as well asindicate the types of splits and the proportions of the splits that wereselected by a user.

FIG. 11 shows card 1100 that may include buttons 1111 and 1112. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a card may include anycomponents (e.g., buttons, display, and light source) on either side ofa card. Similarly, a magnetic emulator or encoder may be provided oneither side of a card or, alternatively, in substantially the middle ofa card. Any card may include a display or may not include a display.

Button 111 may be utilized to indicate a particular type of paymentparameters—such as an installment payment. Additional buttons may beutilized to allow a user to select one of a variety of differentinstallment payments. For example, numerical buttons may be includedsuch that a user may enter in the amount of installments that aredesired for a particular period of time. A button may be provided, forexample, that allows a user to pay at his/her bonus time (e.g., a bonuspaid by the user's employer). Button 1112 may be provided, for example,to indicate that a dynamic account number is desired to be used but thatthe number is desired to remain visually hidden. Accordingly, a dynamicaccount number may be provided via a magnetic emulator or stripe (e.g.,or via an IC chip or RFID antenna).

FIG. 12 shows card 1200 and may include button 1211. Button 1211 may beutilized, for example, to provide two bundles of payment informationserially to a reader via a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder. Personskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic encoder communicatingdata serially may communicate data faster than a static magnetic stripe(e.g., over 2, 10, 20, or 30 times as fast) to a magnetic stripe reader.Accordingly, additional data may be communicated. Readers that arecoupled, for example, to computers (e.g., cash-registers) withprogramming operable to receive serial bundles of payment informationmay receive multiple bundles of payment information with a single swipe.For example, if a user desires a split order between credit and debit,two bundles of payment information (one for credit and one for debit)may be communicated. Information may be included in the discretionaryfields of both bundles of payment information indicative of the user'sdesire for a split order.

FIG. 13 shows card 1300. Card 1300 may include any number of card readercommunication devices such as a magnetic stripe encoder, magneticemulator, RFID antenna, or IC chip. Card 1300 may also include amagnetic stripe. Card 1300 may include, for example, a serial magneticemulator for track 1 data, a different serial magnetic emulator fortrack 2 data, and a static magnetic stripe for track 3 data.

Processor 1340 may control the data transmitted and received from anyRFID antenna, IC chip, or magnetic emulator or encoder. Additionally,for example, an IC chip located on the card may be utilized to transmitand receive information to other communications components (e.g., anRFID). In this manner, a processor may, for example, drive informationthrough a magnetic emulator while an IC chip may drive informationthrough an RFID antenna. One or more memories may be provided to storepayment information that is utilized by, for example, a card readercommunications device.

Any number of batteries 1360 may be included on card 1300. Suchbatteries may be lithium polymer batteries and may, for example, becoupled together in a series configuration. Such batteries may bestacked or may lie adjacent to one another in card 1350. Batteries maybe recharged from power received via a reader (e.g., via a power signalsupplied to an IC chip or an electromagnetic field supplied to an RFIDantenna).

One or more displays may be provided on card 1350. For example, display1380 may be provided. Such a display may take many forms. For example,display 1380 may be an electrochromic display or an LCD display. Variousforms of user interfaces, such as mechanical or capacitive buttons, maybe provided on card 1350.

IC chip 1330 may be provided on card 1350 such that IC chip 1330 maytransmit information to, and receive information by, an IC chip reader.Similarly, card 1350 may include RFID antenna 1310 which may, in turn,transmit information to, and receive information by, an RFID reader.

Card 1350 may include dynamic magnetic device 1350 that may communicatedifferent information to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, dynamicmagnetic device 1350 may be provided as a magnetic emulator or amagnetic stripe encoder. Additionally, for example, a magnetic stripereader having a magnetic encoder may communicate information to, forexample, a magnetic stripe emulator.

Biometric sensor 1320 may be provided. A biometric sensor may take manyforms such as, for example, a fingerprint reader. A fingerprint readermay capture and compare partial fingerprints or full-fingerprints.Images may be initially stored during a setup procedure in which a useris prompted (e.g., via a display) to scan in his/her fingerprint. Suchimages may be retrieved (e.g., from a memory) and compared tofingerprints as new fingerprints are scanned to confirm a user'sidentity.

Light communication device 1370 may be included on card 1350 and may,for example, transmit and receive light-based information signals. Soundbased communication device 1371 may be included on card 1350 and may,for example, transmit and receive sound-based information signals. Powergenerator 1372 may be utilized, for example, to harvest power such thata rechargeable battery located on card 1350 may be recharged. Forexample, such a power generator may harvest kinetic, thermal, solar, orelectromagnetic energy and convert this energy to an electrical energy.

FIG. 14 shows card 1400 that may include single track emulators1421-1423 that communicate information serially to a magnetic read-headat the direction of processor 1430. Battery 1410 may be included topower processor 1430 and the rest of the circuitry of card 1400.Processor 1430 may also perform the functions of a payment IC chip.Particularly, for example, contacts (such as contacts 1441 and 1442) maybe provided that may be able to couple with an IC chip reader. Thecontacts may route information between the IC chip reader and processor1430. In doing so, for example, the cost of card 1400 may be reduced.Processor 1430 may be coupled to additional reader communicationsdevices such as, for example, one or more different types of RFIDantennas (e.g., RFID antenna 1450).

FIG. 15 shows website 1500. A card issuer may provide website 1500 to auser to allow that user to, for example, configure his/her payment card.For example, a user may select a number of features for a card usingwebsite 1500, be provided with a preview of a card that incorporates theselected features, and be provided with instructions on how toreconfigure the user's card. Website 1500 may also, for example, providea user with a preview of the user's card as currently configured. Forexample, website 1500 may provide card layout 1510.

One type of feature that may be selected and configured by a user isthat of a loyalty selection card. A user may select different types ofrewards and generate a code, using virtual button 1530, forreconfiguring the user's card. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that different rewards may change the general terms of auser's payment contract (e.g., credit contract). For example, aparticular type of reward may raise or lower a user's APR, annual fee,late fees, or other costs. A user may also be charged a fee forreconfiguring a card (e.g., $1) or may be provided with a pre-determinednumber of reconfigurations before a cost is applied to areconfiguration. A user may, for example, select reward 1521 and reward1522. A user may upload a particular picture via upload 1523.

FIG. 16 includes webpage 1600. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that the graphical user interface utilized by webpage 1600may be utilized as a graphical user interface for a different medium(e.g., an application running on a mobile telephonic device). Similarly,card features may be provided on a mobile telephonic device eitherphysically or embodied virtually. For example, a physical buttons may beprovided as a virtual button on a graphical user interface displayed ona display screen of a mobile telephonic device.

Website 1600 may be initiated, for example, after a user has selected aconfiguration for his/her card. Such a configuration may associate, forexample, different functionalities to different buttons as well asprovide additional functionality. A user may be charged a monthly feefor particular features. For example, a user may be charged a periodicfee to introduce a dynamic account number capability to a card. As such,a user may configure a card to include both his/her personal andbusiness accounts (e.g., via two buttons) and may configure a card toalso include two types of rewards (e.g., miles and points). Accordingly,a user may select the type of card the user desires in a store as wellas the type of rewards. If a dynamic account number capability waspurchased (e.g., $5 or more per month or per year), then one or both ofthe accounts may be provided with time-based or use-based dynamicaccount numbers as well a time-based or use-based codes. Such codes maybe displayed as well as communicated via a reader communications device(e.g., RFID, magnetic emulator or encoder, and IC chip). Displayed codesmay be the same as codes communicated through a reader communicationsdevice or may be different codes.

Webpage 1600 may show an example of the reconfigured card via previewimage 1610. Similarly, webpage 1600 may include either reconfigurationcode 1630, virtual light transmission objet 1620, or both. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a card may have a table ofpossible configurations. Each entry of the table may correspond to areconfiguration code. Accordingly, for example, a processor mayreconfigure itself based on previously stored reconfiguration data.Alternatively, for example, the code for reconfiguration may bestructured into a code that a user can enter manually or that can bewirelessly communicated to a card via signals (e.g., light-based signalsfrom object 1620). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thatobject 1620 may communicate information as light pulses and that a largeamount of information may be communicated via object 1620. For example,a user may be directed to hold a card up to object 1620 for a particularperiod of time (e.g., approximately at least 10 seconds, 30 seconds, orat least 60 seconds or more). A user may be provided with a virtualbutton on the graphical user interface to initiate data transfer. A usermay be provided with a virtual object (e.g., a red light may be replacedwith a green light) on webpage 1600 after data is communicated. A cardmay provide a signal indicative that data was properly received (e.g.,an LED may blink a particular color, such as GREEN, or a display maydisplay indicia representative of successful receipt of data. Objectsfor communicating light pulses may be provided by any number of physicalstructures (e.g., an LED on a different payment card for card-to-cardcommunications) or any number of virtual objects (e.g., on a televisioncommercial).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a reconfiguration maychange the type of information that is communicated through readercommunications devices as well as the functionality of any component(e.g., when an LED provides a particular color of light). For example,suppose a reconfiguration provides particular a particular buttons witha miles-based reward and provides a different button with a points-basedreward. A magnetic encoder, magnetic emulator, IC chip (e.g., an EMVchip), or an RFID antenna may communicate a chosen reward by sendingdifferent data through the communications device.

The card may provide information indicative of the type of reward orfunctionality selected (e.g., a miles-based reward is desired). The cardmay provide information indicative of the button that was pressed. Inthis manner, a remote serve may have knowledge of the reconfiguration,receive the data indicative of the button that was pressed, utilize alook-up table to determine the functionality associated with theselected button for the particular reconfiguration, and utilize thisretrieved information or forward this retrieved information to adifferent server.

FIG. 17 shows card 1700 that may include buttons 1714-1718 for enteringdata (e.g., a Personal Identification Number) and display 1720.Additional buttons may be included. For example, button 1711 may beincluded. A user may utilize button 1711 in order to rate a transaction.Accordingly, a user may press button 1711 and then provide a rating(e.g., a 1-5 rating) using buttons 1714. The rating may be indicative ofthe waitress, cashier, or purchase experience in general. Differentbuttons may be provided to rate different attributes of a store orpurchase. A user may receive a promotional code on his/her receipt as aresult of rating a transaction. Alternatively, for example, a user maybe provided with a display (e.g., on a cash-register) for communicatingthe data wirelessly (e.g., via light-based signals). Alternatively, forexample, a user may receive additional rewards for rating a purchase orstore attribute (e.g., a waitress, cook, meal, wait lines, customerservice). Such additional rewards may include additional points or milessuch as a set amount of additional points or miles, points or milesassociated with a cost of a purchase, or a multiplier of points or miles(e.g., double, tripe, or quadruple points or miles). A rating may alsoprovide an immediate discount on a purchase (e.g., 20% or less than20%). A user may view his/her ratings on a website associated with auser's account. A rating may be utilized by a card issuer to furtherprove that the appropriate user was in possession of a card at the timeof a particular purchase. Display 1720 may indicate a selection of afunctionality as well as any additional entered data (e.g., button “A”was pressed before button “5” was pressed).

Button 1712 may be included such that a user may select a marketingopt-in 1712. The selection of marketing op-in 1712 may result inpersonal information being provided to a merchant that, for example,completes an associated transaction. In exchange for the personalinformation, a merchant may provide the user with a number ofbenefits—such as rewards, discounts, or promotional codes. Personalinformation (e.g., telephone number, email address, mailing address,annual income, shopping history, age) may be pre-loaded onto card 1700and communicated via a reader communications device separately from, orwith, a payment account number and associated data for completing apayment purchase. For example, a cashier may be directed by the card toswipe the card twice—once to communicate personal information and asecond time to communicate payment information. Alternatively, forexample, information may be sent indicative of a user's desire toexecute an opt-in marketing functionality. Accordingly, a remote servermay recognize this received information, retrieve associated personaldata, and forward this personal data to the appropriate location(s)(e.g., a remote server of the merchant). An opt-in marketingfunctionality may result in, for example, the emailing of a coupon to auser or the inclusion of a coupon on a webpage associated with theuser's payment account.

Button 1713 may be included such that a user may select, for example,the entry or use of a promotional code. For example, a user may beprovided with a promotional code on a receipt at time of checkout (e.g.,as a result of using an opt-in marketing functionality). The promotionalcode may be entered into the card using buttons (or via wirelesslight-based signals) and may be communicated via a reader communicationsdevice (e.g., a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device comprisingtwo magnetic emulators that simultaneously serially communicatedifferent tracks of data to a magnetic stripe reader). The promotionalcode may be displayed on a display and the result of the promotionalcode may be displayed on a display. For example, the result of thepromotional code (e.g., “Walmart −10%”) may be displayed on a displaynext to a button. A user may press the associated button to provide thepromotional code in the data communicated via a reader communicationsdevice. Software on the merchant-side may recognize the code and applythe code to a purchase. Such codes may automatically expire after aperiod of time, expire after a number of uses (e.g, via button presses,light-based signals acknowledging completion of a purchase, or detectionof a data communication to a reader such as a detection of a read-head),or expire after a particular number of new codes are received, and aprocessor may delete the code from its memory. A display may be abistable display or a non-bistable display.

FIG. 18 shows card 1800 that may include IC chip 1820 (e.g., an EMVchip), buttons 1811 and 1812, and display 1830. Button 1811 may beutilized to pay for a purchase with points. Button 1812 may be utilizedto show the remaining number of points a user has on display 1830. Acard may receive information from a variety of devices such as lightsensors, IC chip 1820, an RFID antenna, or a dynamic magnetic devicesuch as a magnetic emulator or a magnetic encoder. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that IC chip 1820 may have conductive physicalcontacts on the surface of card 1800. IC chip 1820 may be, for example,approximately 3 mm×5 mm and may be located in the proximity of thecenter of the left side of the front of card 1800.

FIG. 19 shows flow charts 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940. Flow chart 1910may be initiated with step 1910, in which one or more rewards (or otherfunctionalities) are selected by a user. Such a selection may occur atthe time the card is originally requested or when the card is in thepassion of the user. Step 1920 may commence, in which the card isprogrammed with the various rewards (or other functionalities). Suchprogramming may occur via a programming machine at a manufacturing orprogramming facility or by the user through the use of configurationcodes or light-based signals.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card may bemanufactured at a printed circuit board manufacturer. The board may thenbe send to an assembler. In, the assembler may put various componentsonto the board (e.g., solder on a display, chip, LEDs and buttons).Particular components may be fabricated at the printed circuit boardmanufacturer. For example, displays and buttons (e.g., capacitivebuttons) may be fabricated as the board is fabricated. Additionally,reader communication devices (e.g., a magnetic emulator or RFID antenna)may be fabricated at the printed circuit board manufacturer.Microprocessors may be, for example, pre-programmed with the appropriatesoftware before being sent to the assembler. Alternatively, software maybe programmed into a card at the assembler. A card may be laminatedbefore or after programming. A card may be partially programmed withcertain data and later programmed with additional data. The differentprogramming steps may occur at different locations. For example, anassembler may program code into a card so that the card can laterreceive personalization data from programming at a personalizationfacility. A personalization facility may also print indicia onto thesurfaces of a card, provide holograms and static magnetic stripes onto acard. Lamination may also occur at a personalization facility. A cardmay be, for example, laminated and personalized except for programmingof the card. Such a card may then be programmed at a different facility.Such programming may occur capacitively through the laminant toprogramming contacts of a microprocessor. The cards may then be mailedin envelopes with personalized letters to users. The card issuer may benotified that the cards were mailed. A user may utilize his/her card ina, POS, ATM, or call an activation telephone number to activate his/hercard.

A transaction may be initiated in step 1913. Such an initiation mayoccur, for example, via interaction with a card reader or interactionwith an online payment portal. Step 1914 may initiate when, for example,a remote server recognizes data indicative of a user's desire to earn aparticular reward. For in-store purchases, such data may take the formof data communicated through a card reader. For online purchase or othermanual entry purchases, the data may be provided in an account number,security code, or another code such as a discretionary data code. Anonline portal may request multiple codes for purchases. For example, anonline portal may request entry of a security code or a discretionarydata code. A card may thus display a security code and a discretionarydata code. Such codes may, for example, change based on use or based ontime. Rewards may be applied to the purchase in step 1925 (e.g., certainrewards may be earned for a particular purchase).

Flow chart 1920 may be provided in which step 1921 is initiated when,for example, a user selects a particular reward. Step 1922 may commence,in which a database may associated the selected rewards (or otherfunctionalities) to particular buttons. A user may select which buttonsare associated to which rewards. A user may also select a defaultapplication that does not require a button to initiate. For example, auser may select a default type of payment (e.g., a credit card number)as well as a default type of reward (e.g., miles for a particularairline). A database may store the configuration of a card. Atransaction may be initiated in step 1923. Step 1924 may receiveinformation of which button(s) were pressed and retrieve the currentconfiguration of the card to determine the functionalities desired bythe user. The remote server may apply those functionalities in step1925.

Flow-chart 1930 may be included, in which a user logs into a websiteassociated with the user's account in step 1931. Persons skilled in theart will appreciate that a payment account may include multiplestatements for various types of payment a user includes on one or morepayment cards. A payment account may include a combined statement forall types of payment (e.g., personal credit, business credit, andpersonal debit).

Step 1932 may commence in which the current configuration of a card isretrieved from a server in step 1932. Step 1933 may also retrieve thecurrent payment terms for a user. Step 1934 may be initiated via thereception of a request to change the configuration of a card (or otherdevice). Step 1935 may change the payment contract terms according tothe configuration changes. A user may be provided with a confirmationscreen to manually confirm the changes.

Flow chart 1940 may be included. Step 1941 may be initiated and agraphical user interface may be provided with text boxes for the entryof data. Such data may include, for example, payment card number,expiration date, address with zip code, name on card, a security code,and a discretionary data code. Step 1942 may commence when a remoteserver receives the data including the security code and discretionarydata code. Such a graphical user interface may be provided on a websiteas part of an online payment process. Alternatively, for example, such agraphical user interface may be provided on a cash register application,portable telephonic device, or other device. Step 1943 may commence inwhich the card is validated as authentic using the security code. Step1944 may commence, in which the discretionary data code is utilized toretrieve a variety of associated additional functionalities. Thesefunctionalities are executed in step 1945. Person skilled in the artwill appreciate that discretionary data (e.g., such as discretionarydata communicated through a reader communications device) may beembedded into a payment card number, address information, nameinformation, as well as a security code. Accordingly, a remote servermay remove the discretionary data from this information. Alternatively,for example, the use of the above data may be replaced to be that of adiscretionary data use. For example, a user's name may be replaced by acode that does not include information associated with a user's name. Aserver may accordingly utilize this data to determine the discretionaryor other data. For example, a security code may be utilized asdiscretionary data. Furthermore, such codes may include a parity bit orcharacter. Moreover, for example, a limited number of operable codes maybe utilized in order to reduce, for example, the mistaken entry andexecution of a non-desired code. A confirmation screen may be providedto confirm correct entry of data. Such a confirmation screen may existvia a webpage or on a display of a card.

FIG. 20 shows network topology 2000. Network topology 2000 may includecommunications network 2090. Communications network 2090 may include anynumber of communications servers, transmitters, and receivers.Communications network 2090 may also include, for example, any type ofcommunication medium or multiple types of communication mediums.Communication mediums may include, for example, wireless or wire-basedcommunications.

Reward server 2010 may be included in topology 2000. Reward server 2010may perform a variety of functions. For example, reward server 2010 mayreceive information that was extract from a received information packetfrom a card reader. Reward server 2010 may determine the type of rewardthat was requested based on the extracted data. Reward server 2010 mayexecute a reward-based function such as point/reward management, pointredemption/usage. For example, server 2010 may keep a running total ofthe amount of a particular reward (e.g., miles or points). Server 2010may provide information regarding the total number of rewards, rewardacquisition history, and reward usage history to other facilities. Forexample, this information may be communicated to a server at a facilitymanaged by a card issuer such that the card issuer can incorporate thisdata into a webpage customized for a particular user.

Authorization server 2010 may be included in topology 2000.Authorization server 2010 may authorize an event—such as a payment orother transaction. Authorization server 2010 may receive cardinformation (e.g., payment number and zip code) and may authorize thisdata. Routing server 2030 may be included. Routing server 2030 may routeinformation based on the contents of the information. For example,routing server 2030 may receive payment information from point-of-saledevice 2050 and look at the beginning digits of a payment number todetermine which facility of a list of facilities to send the paymentdata. Such a routing server may transmit all of the information that wasreceived or may extract information such that a smaller amount ofinformation is forwarded to other facilities (e.g., extract the portionsof the payment number used to route the payment information). Theinformation may be forwarded to a variety of facilities such as, forexample, a facility housing another routing server, an authorizationsever, or a card issuer's server.

Card issuer server 2040 may be managed by the issuer of a particularpayment card. Card issuer server 2040 may, for example, issue a webpagefor a user or may perform particular functions such as online accessverification (e.g., using an access code communicated via a display).Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card issuer maymanage, for example, their own routing and authorization servers.

POS terminal 2050 may communicate information received from a card. POSterminal 2050 may take many forms such as, for example, a cash-registerhaving a display and a magnetic stripe reader. POS terminal 2050 mayreceive information from topology 2000. For example, POS terminal mayreceive a signal indicative of the result of a transaction authorization(e.g., failed, verified, destroy card, or hold card and customer until arepresentative or authority arrives). Additional information may becommunicated to the POS terminal such as, for example, a point or rewardbalance and information associated with a functionality of a card. Suchinformation may be printed on a receipt directly or in a code form orcommunicated to the card (e.g., via light-based signals).

Point redemption server 2060 may be utilized to redeem rewards such asmiles or points. Online discretionary data server 2070 may be includedand may, for example, receive discretionary data and perform functionsbased on the received discretionary data. Such discretionary data may bereceived from multiple tracks of magnetic data where each track includesdiscretionary data. Such discretionary data may be received from anonline purchase application that includes a window for receivingmanually input discretionary data.

Dynamic number authentication and linking server 2080 may be utilized toauthorize a dynamic payment card number (as well as dynamic codes). Suchdynamic card numbers and codes may be based on use or on time. Server2080 may also keep track of merchants that have utilized a number suchthat those merchants can utilize the number again at a future time(e.g., for period billing and one-click shopping).

FIG. 21 shows cards 2110, 2130, 2150, and 2170. Card 2110 may beincluded. Dynamic magnetic communications device 2114 may be provided onthe front, back, or middle of a card. Dynamic magnetic communicationsdevice 2114 may be configured to provide electromagnetic signals,operable to be read by a magnetic stripe reader, to any one or bothsides of card 2110. Display 2112 may be provided on the front or back ofcard 2110. Display 2122 may display discretionary data for use withonline transactions. Data displayed on display 2110 may be entered intoa security code input text box of an online purchase application or adiscretionary data text box of an online purchase application. Card 2110may include additional displays for a separate code (e.g., a securitycode) or for displaying other information such as a dynamic paymentnumber.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that display 2112 may be asix-digit seven segment display. Accordingly, display 2112 may display2112 may display four digits and may have fourteen segments to display.Such segments can be utilized to display information other than numbers.For example, segment 2113 may be utilized to indicate that a particularfunctionality is activated. Such a functionality may be associated withpermanently written data 2114. For example, a user may activate button2118 and segment 2113 may be displayed. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that multiple segments on a digit display may be utilized atany given time. For example, a user may be provided with the ability tosplit the rewards earned by a purchase between two different types ofrewards. For example, a user may press button 2118 to turn segment 2113ON and press button 2118 again to turn segment 2114 OFF (and theassociated functionality). Accordingly, a user may press button 2119 andan associated segment may be displayed or a user may press button 2120and an associated segment may be displayed. A user may thus pressbuttons 2118 and 2120 and rewards earned may be split (e.g., 50/50between miles and charity. A user may select all of the buttons and mayevenly split rewards earned between those types. A user may be providedwith the ability to select the distribution of rewards for everypurchase (e.g., via additional buttons). Segments may also be utilizedto display status information. For example, segment 2117 may bedisplayed to indicate that a battery is low or that a battery is notlow. Permanent information 2111 may be printed in the proximity ofsegment 2117 to aide a user in understanding the functionalityassociated with segment 2117.

Card 2130 may be provided with, for example, display 2136, light source(e.g., LED) 2131, light source 2135, dynamic magnetic communicationsdevice 2133, button 2132 and button 2134. Display 2136 may display apartial payment number or a full payment number. Additional data may bedisplayed. For example, display 2136 may display a dynamic paymentnumber and a static security code. Such a static security code may, forexample, be constructed such that each number is printed as a singlesegment such that the number cannot be changed. Alternatively, thesecurity code may be changed (e.g., based on time or based on use). Auser may utilize button 2132 to display a particular payment numberwhile utilizing button 2134 to display a different payment number. Suchselected information may be communicated via magnetic communicationsdevice 2133 (along with other discretionary data). Discretionary datamay also be displayed via a display for online use. Light source 2131may be utilized to indicate that button 2132 has been activated. Lightsource 2134 may be utilized to indicate that button 2135 has beenactivated. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that cards mayshow payment numbers (e.g., credit and debit card numbers) or othertypes of data. Such other types of data may include, for example, serialnumbers for authorizing brokerage trades, video gaming numbers foraccessing access to particular video games or video game characters,gambling numbers for different gambling accounts, or identificationnumbers for different loyalty programs (e.g., a grocery store chain'sdiscount card and an electronic store's reward and discount card). Card2130 may be pre-programmed with various numbers that are associated withparticular buttons. Card 2130 may include buttons such that a user canreconfigure a card with different numbers either through manual inputvia buttons or wireless signals (e.g., light-based signals).

Card 2150 may be included that includes button 2152, light source 2151and display 2154. A number may be hidden on display 2153 until anappropriate code is entered via buttons, which may be indicated vialight source 2151.

Card 2170 may be included that includes button 2173, light source 2172and display 2174. A number may be hidden on display 2153 until anappropriate code is entered via buttons, which may be indicated vialight source 2151. Such a number may change based on time such that thenumber associated with the time period in which a correct PIN wasentered is displayed on display 2174.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any communicationsdevice may be added to a card. For example, an IC chip (e.g, EMV chip)may be added to card 2130 and may be utilized to provide information toan RFID antenna.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that data may be transferred,such as gift card and/or pre-paid card data, to a card in a variety ofways. For example, a card may be swiped a second time through a magneticstripe reader that includes a magnetic stripe encoder. A coil on thecard may be utilized to receive the information and provide the receivedinformation to a processor. In doing so, information may be loaded intothe card. Similarly, an IC chip may be utilized to receive data as wellas a passive or active RFID. Additionally, one or more microphones maybe included to receive audio information that may be representative ofdata. Accordingly, for example, a user may hold his/her card, or otherdevice, next to a device that is operable to transmit audio via aspeaker (e.g., laptop, stationary computer, or mobile telephonicdevice). The audio information may be discerned by the card and utilizedto load information into the card (e.g., a gift card or pre-paid card.An application may also be loaded that enhances the functionality of thecard. Such an application may include, for example, a user's medicalinformation such that medical information can be displayed via the card(or other device) during a medical emergency. Accordingly, applicationsand/or payment cards may be purchased online and a speaker maycommunicate information to a card. Similarly, the card may include aspeaker for transmitting information such that bi-directionalcommunications are established. A light detector may be provided on acard that may receive light pulses indicative of data. Accordingly, forexample, a user may hold a card up to a display—such as the screen of alaptop, stationary computer, or mobile phone—and information may becommunicated from the display to the card via the light detector.Similarly, a light source may be utilized to communicate informationfrom one device to another. For example, a light source (e.g., LED) maybe utilized to communicate information from one card to another.Similarly, a magnetic stripe reader may include a light source. A cardmay be positioned over the light source such that a light detector ofthe card is aligned with the light source to receive light. Accordingly,the light of a magnetic stripe reader (or other type of reader) may beutilized to communicate information back to a card. A user may utilizeinterfaces on the card (e.g., buttons) to initiate a transfer of datafrom one card to another card or from a device to a card. A variety oftypes of data may be communicated. For example, money may becommunicated from one debit card to another debit card such thatpayments may occur between the cards. Accordingly, for example, the nexttime a card is utilized via a reader (e.g., a magnetic stripe reader)information of the transfer may be communicated to a server forprocessing. Light may be utilized to transfer data from a card to acomputer using, for example, a camera (e.g., webcam) on the computer.Sound may be utilized to transfer data from a card to a computer using,for example, a microphone on the computer.

A display may also be utilized as an interface. For example, a displaymay include a contact and an electronic ink. The electronic ink maychange colors in response to, for example, a particular electricalsignal being supplied to the contact. A capacitive sensor may be coupledto such a contact, however, such that a user interaction with thecontact may be sensed by the capacitive sensor. Accordingly, a card mayinclude a display that can also receive user input. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may include multiple contacts.For example, a display may include multiple 7-segment (e.g., to displaydigits) or 11-segment, 14-segment, or 16-segment (e.g., to displayalphanumerics) regions where each segment may be coupled to a capacitivesensor.

A biometric sensor may be placed on a card or other device. Such abiometric sensor may be, for example, a fingerprint reader. Accordingly,one or more fingerprints may be stored in the memory of a card andcompared to scanned fingerprints. Different fingerprints may activatethe card differently (e.g., utilize a different user's payment cardinfo).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user's payment cardnumber (e.g., credit card or debit card number) does not have to change.A display may hide this payment card number until an appropriateunlocking code is entered into buttons of the card. Similarly, amagnetic emulator may not be provided current until the proper unlockingcode is entered—thus keeping magnetic information private and notallowing undesirable readers to read a card. A security code may bedisplayed on the same or a different display. A button may be providedrepresentative of an online purchase (or a user may utilize buttons toinstruct the processor that an online purchase is desirable). For suchan online purchase, the credit card number and the security code may bedisplayed—but the magnetic emulator may not be activated. In doing so,the level of security of the card is increased. Furthermore, forexample, a button may be provided representative of in-store purchases(or a user may utilize buttons to instruct the processor that anin-store purchase is desirable). Accordingly, a processor may besignaled that an in-store purchase is desired. A different operation maybe associated with different types of purchases (e.g., online orin-store). Accordingly, for example, magnetic emulators may be activatedfor an in-store environment—but not the displays. Accordingly, forexample, a restaurant cashier may not be able to read the credit cardnumber from the card, but may still be able to swipe the card. If areader is down or a cashier requires reading particular information(e.g., a security code or credit card number information) then controlsmay be utilized to communicate this information. A record of the typesof transactions may be stored and may be communicated in discretionaryfields of data within a transmitted data track. Such record informationmay be utilized, for example, to further increase security and/orintroduce a variety of additional functionality.

Different types of cards may be provided on a card. For example, asecurity ID number and a credit card number may both be provided on thesame card. A button may be utilized to allow a user to provideinstruction to a processor such that the processor can display (e.g.,visually and/or magnetically) the desired information. For example, auser may determine to use one of a variety of payment accounts (e.g.,credit and/or debit) for a purchase. An entire payment number (e.g.,credit or debit) may be changed and/or hidden visually and/ormagnetically. A portion of a payment card number (e.g., credit or debit)may be changed and/or hidden visually and/or magnetically.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a display on the cardmay display a credit card number that does not change with time (ortransaction or button press). Additionally, for example, a magneticemulator (or multiple magnetic emulators) may magnetically communicatefinancial data that does not change with time. Such a card may reduce,for example, the effects of physical card theft and card cloning.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any numbers of a creditcard number may remain static and/or change either with time or basedoff a transaction (e.g., by sensing a read-head “swipe”). Additionally,any static and/or dynamic numbers may be displayed via a display orprinted on a card. For example, a middle 6 digits of a credit/debit cardnumber may be static and may be displayed on a display. Such a middle 6digits may be displayed, for example, upon the entry of a correct PIC.Similarly, a magnetic emulator may not communicate information until acorrect PIC has been entered by a user. Doing so may, for example,reduce fraud associated with card cloning. Additionally, a receipt maybe provided that includes masked credit card numbers except for the lastfew digits of credit card numbers. Accordingly, displaying a staticmiddle 6 digits of credit card numbers may allow for such a receipt tobe provided while still reducing credit card fraud from hiding numbersthat are not displayed on such a receipt. Any amount of numbers and/orcharacters may be displayed through a display. For example, nineteendigits may be displayed as part of a credit/debit numbers and thesenumbers may also be communicated through one or more magnetic emulationcircuits. The entry of particular PICs may provide different results.For example, a first PIC may only display a string of alphanumericcharacters. A second PIC may only activate a magnetic emulation circuitto transmit information including that string of alphanumeric characters(or a different string). A third PIC may activate a magnetic emulationcircuit and a display. A display and/or magnetic emulation circuit maybe turned OFF, for example, upon entry of an incorrect PIC and/or aftera period of time has passed since the entry of the PIC and/or after thedetection of a particular number of swipes by a read-head detector(e.g., one or two).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a credit/debit cardnumber (or any other information) may remain static until an eventoccurs and then may become dynamic (e.g., change based on swipes and/ortime). For example, a particular PIC may change from a static to adynamic topology and/or a topology may be changed from static to dynamicafter a pre-determined period of time. Additionally a card and/or devicemay include a wireless receiver and a topology may be changed from astatic to a dynamic topology upon, for example, receiving an appropriatesignal from the wireless receiver. Accordingly, a validation process maychange at a validation server depending upon whether a card is utilizinga static and/or dynamic topology at any given time. Additionally, astatic credit/debit card number may be printed on the face of a card andinformation (e.g., a security code) may be displayed via a display andremain static over time (or with use) or be provided dynamically.

A card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may accept apre-determined number of consecutive incorrect PICs before locking thecard for a period of time or until an appropriate secondary PIC isentered. Accordingly, a user may enter in an incorrect PIC a number oftimes and then, after a card becomes locked, call a support center for asecondary one-time use PIC. A card may cycle through unlocking PICsbased, for example, on time or the number of previous unlock attempts.

FIG. 22 shows personal electronic device 2200 which may be, for example,a portable telephonic device, portable media player, or any type ofelectronic device. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thefunctionality of a card may be provided on a personal device anddisplayed through a graphical user interface. Personal electronic device2200 may include, for example, user inputs 2240 and display 2210.Virtual card 2220 may be displayed on display 2220. Display 2020 may bea touch-sensitive display such that, for example, virtual button 2230may be provided on virtual card 2220. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that cards may be provided as virtual cards and a user mayinteract with such virtual cards in order to provide a variety offunctions. Personal electronic device 2200 may communicate to a cardreader such as, for example, an RFID reader.

A display may be bi-stable or non bi-stable. A bi-stable display mayconsume electrical energy to change the information displayed on thebi-stable display but may not consume electrical energy to maintain thedisplay of that information. A non bi-stable display may consumeelectrical energy to both change and maintain information on the nonbi-stable display. A display driving circuit may be provided, forexample, for a bi-stable display (or a non bi-stable display). Such adisplay driving circuit may step-up a supply voltage (e.g., 1-5 volts)to a larger voltage (e.g., 6-15 volts) such that a bi-stable display maychange displayed information. A controller (e.g., a processor) may beutilized to control such a display driving circuit. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may be configured to displaynumerical data or alphanumerical data. A display may also be configuredto display other indicia (e.g., the image of a battery and its remaininglife).

A magnetic stripe reader may, for example, determine information on amagnetic stripe by detecting the frequency of changes in magnetic fields(e.g., flux transversals). A particular frequency of flux transversalsmay correlate to, for example, a particular information state (e.g., alogic “1” or a logic “0”). Accordingly, for example, a magnetic emulatormay change the direction of an electromagnetic field at particularfrequencies in order to communicate a different state of information(e.g., a logic “1” or a logic “0”).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that a card mayinclude an IC chip (e.g., EMV chip), RFID, and a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or encoder). The sameinformation may be communicated through, for example, any number of suchdevices (e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device, RFID, and anEMV chip). A central processor may cause each device to communicate theinformation (in the same format or a different format). Each componentmay have its own processor or driving circuitry. Such individualprocessors or driving circuitry may be coupled to a central processor.An EMV chip may be utilized, for example, to provide control signals toother devices (e.g., circuitry driving a display as well as a dynamicmagnetic communications device). Such an EMV chip may receive signalsprovided by one or more buttons to determine, for example, that aparticular button, or sequence of buttons, was pressed by a user.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulator mayelectromagnetically communicate information serially by changing themagnitude of an electromagnetic field with respect to time. As such, forexample, a current in a single direction may be provided through amagnetic emulator in order for that magnetic emulator to generate anelectromagnetic field of a single direction and a particular magnitude.The current may then be removed from the magnetic emulator such that,for example, the electromagnetic field is removed. The creation of apresence of an electromagnetic field, and the removal of thatelectromagnetic field, may be utilized to communicate information to,for example, a magnetic stripe reader. A magnetic stripe reader may beconfigured to read, for example, the change in flux versus time and mayassociate an increase in an electromagnetic field (e.g., creation of afield) as one flux transversal and a decrease (e.g., removal of a field)as another transversal. In doing so, for example, driving circuitry (notshown) may be provided which, in turn, controls when current is providedto a magnetic emulator. The timing of magnetic flux transversals, asdetermined by a magnetic stripe reader, may be utilized by that readerto determine whether a logic one (“1”) or logic zero (“0”) wascommunicated. Accordingly, a driving circuit may change the frequency ofwhen current is supplied and removed from a magnetic emulator in orderto communicate a logic one (“1”) or a logic zero (“0”).

A driving circuit may, for example, change the direction of currentsupplied to a magnetic emulator to increase the amount of change in anelectromagnetic field magnitude for a period of time. In doing so, forexample, a magnetic stripe reader may more easily be able to discernoverall changes in an electromagnetic field and, as such, may moreeasily be able to discern information. As such, for example, a drivingcircuit may increase the magnitude of an electromagnetic field byproviding negative current, decrease the amount of negative currentuntil no current is provided and provide an increasing positive currentin order to provide a large swing in the magnitude of an electromagneticfield. Similarly, a driving circuit may switch from providing one amountof negative current (or positive current) to one amount of positivecurrent (or negative current).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a string of a particularbit of data (e.g., a string of logic zeros “0s”) may be communicatedbefore as well as after information is communicated through a magneticemulator. A magnetic stripe reader may utilize such data, for example,to determine base timing information such that the magnetic stripereader has a timing reference that the reader can utilize to assist indetermining timing changes of perceived flux transversals. Accordingly,for example, a magnetic emulator may send data at different overallfrequencies and a magnetic stripe reader may be able to reconfigureitself to receive data at such overall frequencies. Information may beencoded using, for example, Frequency/Double Frequency (F2F) encodingsuch that magnetic stripe readers may perform, F2F decoding.

A processor may control one or more emulators by, for example,controlling the direction of the current supplied through one or moresegments of an emulator. By changing the direction of current through aregion, for example, the direction of an electromagnetic field may bechanged. Similarly, a processor may control one or more emulators by,for example, controlling the change in magnitude of current suppliedthrough one or more segments of an emulator. As such, for example, aprocessor may increase the magnitude of current as well as decrease themagnitude of current supplied through an emulator. A processor maycontrol the timing of such increases and decreases in current such thata magnetic emulator may, for example, communicate F2F encodedinformation.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder)may be fabricated, either completely or partially, in silicon andprovided as a silicon-based chip. Other circuitry (e.g., drivingcircuitry) may also be fabricated on such a silicon-based chip. Aprocessor, such as a processor for controlling a magnetic communicationsdevice, may be, for example, a programmable processor having on-boardprogrammable non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory), volatile memory(e.g., RAM), as well as a cache. Firmware as well as payment information(e.g., dynamic numbers) may be, for example, communicated from aprogramming device to a processor's on-board programmable non-volatilememory (e.g., a FLASH memory) such that a card may provide a variety offunctionalities. Such a processor may also have one or more power-savingoperating modes, in which each operating mode turns OFF a different setof circuitry to provide different levels of power consumption. One ormore power-savings modes may turn OFF, for example, one or more clockingcircuitry provided on a processor. An Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) may also be included in a card or other device toprovide, for example, processing, dynamic magnetic communications, aswell as driving capabilities.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways then those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving first informationfrom a payment device as a result of, at least in part, a first buttonbeing pressed on said payment device, wherein said payment device isbattery powered; completing a first purchase transaction utilizing, atleast in part, said first information, wherein points are earned for anaccount as a result of completing said first purchase transaction withsaid first information; and completing a second purchase transactionutilizing, at least in part, second information received from saidpayment device, wherein said earned points are used as a result ofcompleting said second purchase transaction with said secondinformation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment deviceincludes a second button.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said paymentdevice includes a processor and an RFID.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein said payment device includes an IC chip.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein said payment device includes a display.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said payment device includes a display and an IC chip.7. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment device includes aplurality of displays.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said paymentdevice includes a first light source.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid payment device includes a first and a second light source.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said payment device includes a biometricsensor.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment device includesa display for displaying indicia indicative of said first button beingpressed.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment device includesa first display for displaying indicia indicative of said first buttonbeing pressed and a second display for displaying indicia indicative ofa second button being pressed.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein saidpayment device includes a dynamic magnetic stripe communications devicefor providing said first and second information.
 14. The method of claim1, wherein said payment device includes an RF antenna for providing saidfirst and second information.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein saidpayment device includes an exposed chip for providing said first andsecond information.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said paymentdevice includes a first light source for displaying light indicative ofsaid first button being pressed.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein saidpayment device includes a first light source for displaying lightindicative of said first button being pressed and a second light sourcefor displaying light indicative of a second button being pressed.